USA announces U18 team

Reigning champion names five returnees for U18 Worlds

ANN ARBOR, United States – USA Hockey announced the 22-man roster for the 2010 IIHF World U18 Championship, April 13-23 in Minsk and Bobruisk, Belarus.

Highlighting the roster are five returnees from the team that captured the gold medal last year at the 2009 IIHF World U18 Championship on home ice in Fargo and Moorhead. Goaltender Jack Campbell, who was named to the media all-star team at last year’s event, will return between the pipes. Defencemen Adam Clendening and Jon Merrill, and forwards Matthew Nieto and Jason Zucker will also be competing in their second World U18 Championship.

In addition, Campbell and Zucker were also part of the U.S. team that won the gold medal at the 2010 IIHF World U20 Championship in Regina and Saskatoon in January.

Twenty of the 22 players on Team USA’s roster come from USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Connor Brickley plays for the USHL’s Des Moines Buccaneers, while Austin Watson skates for the OHL’s Peterborough Petes.

The U.S. team will be led by head coach Kurt Kleinendorst, who will be participating in his first World U18 Championship. John Wroblewski, Tim Taylor, Joe Exter and Cole Bassett will serve as assistant coaches for Team USA.

Before the World U18 Championship, Team USA will play exhibition games in Belarus: April 8 in Soligorsk vs. Belarus and April 10 in Bobruisk vs. Slovakia. The U.S. will open tournament play against Sweden on April 13 at Bobruisk.